Grammar School Triumph & Château Claude Memories | Family, Grit & Growing Up | The Parallel Four

Send us a text Chapter Twenty-Nine blends family pride with rich backstory: a spotless dinner table, roast chicken, and two ten-year-olds waiting on their 11-plus results. When the envelopes land, Nils and Vera smash it — moments later, Otto and Olivia burst in with the same news, turning the house into a victory parade. That night the families celebrate at the Red Fox Brasserie, toasting the kids with a rare 1975 Pauillac Château Claude — a wine tied to Stephen & Johan’s 1973 Grand European Tour and the kindness of Claude and Edith. Between laughter and careful manners, the chapter threads themes of perseverance (“fail once, work twice as hard”), service values at home, and how small rituals forge strong futures. Back at the house, quiet scenes in the children’s tidy rooms (two desks, two paths) hint at what’s coming next. In the garage, the polished line of Manx Nortons, MV Agustas, a Norton Commando, a BSA Gold Flash, and GS850spromise fresh adventures. The Parallel Four Book Two Chapter Twenty Nine Writing The Parallel Four has been a journey in itself—a walk through memories, dreams, and all the little moments that shape who we become. Some parts of this story are true. Some are truer than I’d care to admit. And some—well, let’s just say they’re inspired by what might’ve happened if life had taken a different turn. The characters you’ll meet in these pages—Stephen, Johan, Vinka, Marlin, Tim, and Petra—are fictional, but they live and breathe with the spirit of real people I’ve known, loved, and lost. Their world is stitched together from scraps of real places, actual events, and a few wild yarns that got better with each retelling down the pub. Poplar, Hitchin, and the snowy reaches of Sweden aren’t just backdrops—they’re characters in their own right. They’ve shaped this story as much as the people in it. And if you happen to recognise a place, a turn of phrase, or a certain kind of mischief from your own youth… well, consider that my nod to you. This first book takes us from scraped knees to stolen kisses, from playground politics to life’s first real goodbyes. It’s about growing up, making mistakes, and finding the people who’ll stand by you no matter what—even if they sometimes drive you round the bend. To those who remember the ‘50s and ‘60s—this one’s a memory jogger. To the younger lot—it’s a peek into a time when life moved slower, but feelings still ran just as fast. And finally, to Stephen, Johan, Vinka, Marlin, Tim, and Petra—six hearts bound by the wonder of first love. Not the fleeting kind that fades with time, but the rare and lasting kind that deepens, steadies, and endures—a love that grows with them, becoming part of who they are, and who they will always be. And though this is only the beginning, the road ahead will test them in ways they cannot yet imagine—through training, through battle, and through the choices that will shape the rest of their lives. Perfect for: listeners who love real British Army family life, coming-of-age wins, veteran values, classic bikes, and nostalgic ties across the 1970s–90s. Support the show